Shoppers have given an enthusiastic welcome to the £60 million shopping development proposed for York city centre.

But some have reservations about one aspect of the scheme announced yesterday - the glazed upper floor and "funnel" proposed for a new building fronting on to Piccadilly and the River Foss.

They said it was probably too futuristic for the historic city centre setting.

The project for a massive extension to the Coppergate Centre, which will include York's biggest department store as well as 20 other shops, 750 parking spaces and 120 flats, is being submitted by developers Land Securities to City of York Council.

Subject to planning permission, it should be completed by early 2001 and it is seen as the city centre's answer to competition posed by out-of-town retail centres at Clifton Moor, Naburn and Monks Cross.

We went out to ask shoppers in Piccadilly what they thought of the scheme, and found there was fairly strong approval.

Shopper Dorothy Hunt said the development would help bring visitors back into town. "All the businesses are going out to Clifton Moor and such like."

Margaret McIntyre, who runs Thimbelina, the designers and dressmakers in Walmgate, hoped it would bring custom back into that end of the city centre. "I don't care what they do, providing it brings business back to this end of town," she said. "Why they didn't do this 40 years ago I don't know."

She wanted the new development to include a chemist's shop. "We need one at this end of town. It's an important part of everyday life."

Margaret Richmond said: "I always welcome more shops. But this (the glazed building) looks terribly modern. It has to be in keeping with the area."

York University student Chris Robinson approved of the proposed shops fronting on to Clifford's Tower. "It looks really nice." But she too had doubts about the glazed building. "It looks too futuristic for York." However, she welcomed the general idea of improving Piccadilly. "It's the scruffy end of town at the moment."

Malcolm Bricklebank said of the development: "It looks good to me. It would be a vast improvement."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.